Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Fox and Friends Blast Obama As Anti-Christian Over Ramadan Proclamation

Monday was the beginning of Ramadan, and Barack Obama recognized Muslim Americans with a simple statement as follows:

"Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam — that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem."

This, of course, is in continuing with traditions begun with the last President, George W. Bush, who notably held iftar dinners all eight years of his presidency (iftar being the meal breaking the Ramadan fast). This didn't stop the asshats over on Fox News from once again raising questions about the President's religious background, to include Barry O's supposed War on Easter. From ThinkProgress:

CARLSON: Some people said that they might have an issue with the fact that he didn’t issue a proclamation for Easter. So some people are saying is this an outreach to the Muslim world and why isn’t there an outreach to the Christian world.”

DOOCY: Of course the White House does historically have White House Easter Egg Roll, but they didn’t issue a proclamation they did for Ramadan just now…I think he did mention briefly in his weekend address that weekend Easter — in passing — but still, nothing big. It is Christianity’s holiest, most sacred holiday.

JOHNSON: I think the coming Easter you’ll see a statement coming out of the White House.

DOOCY: Oh during the election year?

JOHNSON: Clearly, it was a terrible terrible error.

So was it a terrible, terrible error when George W. didn't issue a proclamation on Easter? Or H.W. Bush? Or Ronald Reagan?

Dudes, nobody has ever issued a proclamation on Easter. Why? Because the President already reaches out to Christians-- in the White House Easter Egg Roll, in the annual Christmas Address, in the Presidential Christmas tree, and in the Easter prayer breakfast. What you're asking for isn't to reach out to Christians, but to place Christianity in a place of primacy in our President's actions. That's not only inappropriate, it violates the already tenuous grasp our nation has on the separation of church and state.